Police have been given new powers in one area of Merseyside this weekend after a spate of anti-social behaviour.
A large dispersal zone has been introduced in Huyton, covering the village shopping centre, Derby Road and Marshfield Close. It will come into force from 4pm on Friday, March 25 and will remain in place for 48-hours due to recent reports of anti-social behaviour. This means police officers will be patrolling the area over the weekend and will be on hand to "deal with any incidents".
The zone gives Merseyside Police officers the powers to direct people they suspect are causing or likely to cause crime, nuisance or anti-social behaviour out of the area. Under the legislation, officers have the power to direct members of the public to leave the designated area and not return for up to 48 hours. They are also given extra powers to seize any item used in the commission of anti-social behaviour.
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If someone has previously been told to leave the area by an officer but then returns, an offence would be committed, which they may ultimately be arrested for. Several dispersal zones have been introduced for Knowsley areas over the last few months as officers continue to crack down on anti-social and criminal behaviour.
The order has been introduced just days after shocking weapons were seized following patrols in the Page Moss and Huyton areas. Merseyside Police officers visited businesses to discuss crime prevention strategies and open land searches were conducted in key hot spot locations and seized weapons found.
